N. Korea sends trash-carrying balloons to S. Korea for 1st time in 3 weeks

North Korea again sent balloons carrying trash toward South Korea on November 18, the military here said, resuming its balloon campaign after about a three-week hiatus, Report informs via Yonhap.

North Korea floated some 40 balloons in the early hours, with approximately half of them falling in the Seoul metropolitan area and surrounding Gyeonggi Province, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said.

The fallen objects were leaflets critical of South Korea and included no hazardous items, it added.

Since late May, North Korea has sent more than 7,000 balloons carrying trash across the border in retaliation against anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets sent across the border by activists in the South. Monday's launch marked the 31st such launch.

The JCS condemned North Korea for "crossing the line" with its continued sending of trash-carrying balloons and warned that all responsibility lies within the North.

"Do not further test our military's patience," JCS deputy spokesperson Col. Nam Gi-su said in a statement.